AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR preview

Nikon expands its FX line for mid-range full-format DSLRs with the announcement of the new AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR telephoto — a lens long overdue.

With a constant fixed aperture of f/4 across all focal lengths, the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR is an alternative to the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mmf/2.8 VR II telephoto lens that is intended for a more professional market. Like its big brother, the 70-200mm f/4 is equipped with the latest generation of optical image stabilization for which Nikon announces a huge gain of 5 stops.

The telephoto lens’s VR system has two modes of operation: a classic mode and an “Active” mode that stabilizes high-frequency shake for images taken in motion.

The autofocus utilizes Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology, and the minimum focusing distance is one meter, at which it offers a reproduction ratio of 0.274x at 200 mm.

Designed to be compact, the 70-200mm f/4 measures 17.8 cm in length with a diameter of 78 mm. (The filter diameter is 67 mm.) On the scale, the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR weighs in at 850 grams.

Price and availability

The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR telephoto lense will be available the end of November 2012 at a price of $1,399.95. The optional RT-1 tripod collar will be available for $223.95.

Further readings for the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR preview

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Quite useless without comparison with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II

It's quite useless without comparison with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II which, surprisingly, has yet to be reviewed/rated by DxO. What's with the long wait, or worse, DxO do not intend to rate it at all? The Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II is one of the most important lens used by professionals and others, so why no rating? Very, very strange.

First replies for this comment

Re: Quite useless without comparison with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II

Good remark, we knew that the 70-200 VR II was missing but we did not want to postponed the publication of the 70-200 f/4. The 70-200mm VR II is already planed and is currently measured in our labs, measurement should be able in few weeks.

Re: Quite useless without comparison with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II

Quote:

Good remark, we knew that the 70-200 VR II was missing but we did not want to postponed the publication of the 70-200 f/4. The 70-200mm VR II is already planed and is currently measured in our labs, measurement should be able in few weeks.

Re: Quite useless without comparison with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II

Sharpness as a function of camera

If you look at the sharpness of this lens for various cameras, you get:

D600: 18P-MpixD3X: 19P-MpixD800: 20P-MPixD800E: 30P-MPix

I think that these results prove that there is something seriously wrong with the way you define sharpness. There is no way that D600/D3X and D800 are so close and D800E is so above.

For the D800/D800E comparison, I know that you compare the sharpness of the image without any sharpness applied to the picture. It is obvious that a camera with anti-aliasing filter needs (and can handle) more sharpening than a camera without one. Therefore, the comparison is not fair.

I stil don't understand why the D600 and D800 results are so close. It just does not match what you get when you compare a crop of a D800 and a crop of a D600 picture upscaled to 36MP.

First replies for this comment

Re: It will be great

Nikon 1,2,3 stop !!!

Hi I have the 70-200 2.8 VRII course! assumptions and four steps is unmatched by other nikon lens, but does magic on their four steps must add good arm and photographic technique. is that I read the comments in various forums and it seems we buy a wand, if the same thing again, is not better photographer with better equipment, remember that the picture comes in our head and then goes to the sensor.